GILGIT, May 25: Seven cases of motorcycle theft have been reported in Gilgit in the current year and such new crime cases could trouble the people and police alike in future, police here said.

“Cases of motorcycle lifting are new to the area and mostly young people, who had spent time in other areas of the country, have been committing such crimes,” City Police Station SHO Sher Khan told this correspondent on Wednesday.

According to police record, so far seven motorcycles had been stolen this year and four were recovered. The SHO said that the recovered bikes were altered to the extent that their owners could not recognise them. “All this shows that the crime is committed in an organised way,” he said.

Mr Khan said that the stolen motorcycles were sold to mechanics, who tampered with their engine and chassis numbers and sell their parts. He said that serious efforts were being made to check this crime.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehdi Shah said in a statement that Gilgit-Baltistan region was an ideal location for investment and the government would give incentives the investors.